IMPURE AND UNTOUCHABLE

ANOTHER GIRL DIES IN CHHAUPADI HUT

Now another girl  in Nepal  has died after being bitten by a poisonous snake while she was banished to the chhaupadi hut during her period . . . even though it's now illegal.

FUNDRAISING TO PUT A STOP TO THIS

Recently I received this timely post in an email from DFG's Director of Enterprise projects.

The Power of Local Leadership
By Sarah Webb - Enterprise Projects Director

Lila leads a focus group with women in Siuna

“It is the right of women all over the globe to be allowed to integrate into their society. In order to change this, it is important to change the practice of chhaupadi,” states Lila, the Days for Girls Kalikot Project Manager as she  smiles proudly.

At the core of the Shattering the Shame Project supported by you is an emphasis on developing local leadership. Leaders like Lila who, together with her strong team of eight local women, are working to change the narrative about menstruation. Through women’s circles, health training, community awareness campaigns, and meetings with local leaders, the Kalikot Trainers are shifting the way their community sees menstruation.

This has not been an easy jog.  The Kalikot Trainers hike DfG Kits into some of the most remote hills of mid-Western Nepal, to reach communities that are often left behind and forgotten. For many women and girls, the Kalikot Trainers present the first formal training on menstrual and reproductive health that their community has ever seen. During follow-up visits this spring, women voiced their gratitude to the local leaders and your support. They told stories about being able to stay in school during menstruation, start conversations with their families about menstruation and chhaupadi, and newfound feelings of pride about being female.

Shukla, a DfG Trainer from Sipkhana, started with the Shattering the Shame Project early on and over the course of her time with Days for Girls, she has transformed into a confident and powerful leader in her community.

“Days for Girls have brought a lot of changes in my life…. health training and kit distribution for menstruation management can bring a huge change in rural places like ours. I want to thank Days for Girls because they have given me this opportunity to work as trainer in very young age, which I can utilize all my life.”

Thanks to your support, the Shattering the Shame Project will be able to mobilize local leaders to change the narrative about menstruation from shame to celebration. These local leaders are ready to charge ahead. And we can’t wait to see what they accomplish!

If you're interested in donating to help with this project in Nepal, here's the link for donations.

SAVE A PIECE OF CARDBOARD

Remember a few months ago when we made (with the help of some other chapters) 250 transport bags, the alternative to Ziplocs for girls in Kenya (where plastic bags are now illegal)?  I think we all agreed that they were a pain in the neck to make.

Well, the transport bags have been redesigned.  

And I think you'll hate them less--or maybe even enjoy making them.  Most of the stitching is done on a 4-thread serger.  

One of the steps involves slipping a piece of cardboard inside.  I found that part of a cereal box works well, and that including the corner fold creases makes insertion a breeze.

So, if a few of you have a box you can cut down and donate, here's what we need:  9.5" by at least 8".  Thanks!

NEXT WORKDAY

Our next workday is Saturday, July 7th, at Our Sewing Room,  I'll be ready to hand out jobs at 10:00.  We're there until around 4:00, so come for however much time works for you.  If you have a serger or sewing machine, please bring it.  (I think this month there will be more need for serging than sewing--but still lots of both).  If  you aren't sewing or serging expert, we have many other tasks--pressing, cutting, pinning, etc.  Everything is necessary and appreciated.  We can keep everybody busy.

Our Sewing Room has a fridge you can use if you bring your lunch, and many delightful places to eat nearby.

I'll send out an email reminder a few days before.  Please let me know if you're coming this month.  (No need to respond if you're not).  

Hope to see you there!